Chapter 5. Configuration Information And Instructions; Updating The Firmware; Configuring The Blade Server - IBM BladeCenter JS21 Types 8844 Service Manual

Chapter 5. Configuration information and instructions

This chapter provides information about updating the firmware and using the
configuration utilities.

Updating the firmware

IBM periodically makes firmware updates available for the blade server. Use the
following table to determine the methods you can use to install these firmware
updates.
Important: To avoid problems and to maintain proper system performance, always
ensure that the blade server BIOS, service processor, and diagnostic firmware
levels are consistent for all blade servers within the BladeCenter unit.
You can download the latest firmware from the IBM Support Web site at
http://www.ibm.com/systems/support/. Install the updated firmware using the
following methods:
v To update the service processor (BMC) firmware, use the management-module
v To update the BIOS code, diagnostics, and firmware for the hard disk drive and

Configuring the blade server

While the firmware is running POST and before the operating system loads, a
POST menu with POST indicators is displayed. The POST indicators are the words
Memory, Keyboard, Network, SCSI, and Speaker that are displayed as each
component is tested. The POST menu provides the following configuration utilities.
v System management services (SMS)
v Default boot list
v Stored boot list
v Open firmware prompt
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2007
Web interface (see the BladeCenter Management Module User's Guide for more
information).
hard disk drive controller, use the update tools that are provided with your
operating system (see the documentation that comes with your operating system
for more information).
Use the system management services (SMS) utility to view information about
your system or partition, and to perform tasks such as changing the boot list and
setting the network parameters. The SMS utility can be used for AIX or Linux
partitions. See "Using the SMS utility" on page 166 for more information.
Use this utility to initiate a system boot in service mode through the default
service mode boot list. This mode attempts to boot from the first device of each
type found in the list.
Note: This is the preferred method of loading standalone AIX diagnostics from
CD.
Use this utility to initiate a system boot in service mode using the customized
service mode boot list that was set up by AIX when AIX was first booted, or
manually using the AIX service aids.
This utility is for advanced users of the IEEE 1275 specifications only.
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